New cornerback Andre Goodman says he is on board with new coach Josh McDaniels’ priority that “today is the first day of the season” when the team had its first meeting and workout Monday at Dove Valley.

Just in case there were any doubts about who is in charge at Broncos headquarters, they departed when new coach Josh McDaniels finished his first team meeting Monday morning.

McDaniels, 32, the team’s head coach, managed to come across as both energetic and stern as he spoke for about 30 minutes. In his speech, players said, McDaniels described his coaching philosophies, his plans for the upcoming season and his expectations for the team.

The main message? Be ready to work.

“Today is the first day of the season,” said cornerback Andre Goodman, who recently signed with the team as a free agent. “It’s not one of those ‘Let’s get ready for the offseason.’ No, today is the first day of the season. That’s the approach he’s taking, and that’s the approach the players are going to take.”

McDaniels did speak, briefly, about the status of quarterback Jay Cutler, who was noticeably absent from the voluntary meeting after requesting a trade a day earlier. McDaniels told players he and management would deal with the Cutler situation and they should focus on their jobs.

McDaniels met most of his players at some point in the two months since he was hired Jan. 12, but this was the first chance for him to address them as a group.

“You could tell he’s a great leader and he commands respect. And he has a plan,” wide receiver Eddie Royal said. “He’s focused, he’s driven, and that’s what you want to see in your head coach.”

Defensive lineman Kenny Peterson, who has known McDaniels since both were teenagers and teammates at the same high school in Canton, Ohio, said the new coach had little trouble commanding the respect of his players, even though McDaniels is about the same age as plenty of them.

“I don’t care if he’s 20, 40, 50, 60 years old. You’re the head coach. You’re going to get the respect,” Peterson said. “Just his demeanor, he’s very methodical. He’s very articulate.”

Part of McDaniels’ plan Monday, players said, was to instill a sense of discipline — starting with the attitude McDaniels wanted players to have about the offseason training program that began with an upper-body weightlifting session Monday.

The team will run together for the first time today. The voluntary offseason conditioning program — run by strength coach Rich Tuten, one of the holdovers from Mike Shana-han’s staff — continues through June 26.

McDaniels and his staff did not speak much to players Monday about the specifics of the offensive playbook or the new defensive scheme the staff is planning to install.

The first mandatory minicamp is April 17-19.

“We’re not really doing too much football stuff right now,” Royal said. “We’re just running and lifting pretty much right now. It’s just kind of getting yourself better as an athlete.”

Players also had their first chance to meet more than a dozen free agents signed since Feb. 28.

“A couple of guys I walked up to, and I was like, ‘What’s your name again?’ ” Peterson said.

Four assistant basketball coaches at Division I schools and a top Adidas executive were among 10 people charged Tuesday with crimes including bribery and fraud as part of a wide-ranging federal investigation into corruption in college basketball.

CenturyLink, the telecommunications company that ended its sponsorship agreement with Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall because of his protests during the national anthem last year, said it will not terminate its agreement with current client Emmanuel Sanders.